Telephone metering system.



R. M. EATON- TELEPHONE METERING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1907.

Patented July 13, 1909.

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R M. EATON. TELEPHONE METERING- SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1907.

Patented July 13, 1909. v

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Jliorneys Minaaaaar: )MEW UNITED STATES PATENT OFT Ht RICHARD MAX EATON, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF ELYRIA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TELEPHONE METERING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD MAX EATON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Metering Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Hy invention relates to telephone systems, and especially to means for metering the service afforded subscribers in said systems.

The object of the invention is to provide means which shall record the actual time of use for each telephone as distinguished from the number of times it has been used, thus affording a more equitable basis for charges than has heretofore been possible.

In working out my method and the apparatus therefor, I provide for the use of a percentage of the time record as a basis of charges, this percentage being determined partly by experiments or the known conditions in a given case. I also contemplate deducting time which is otherwise charged, such as that'consumed in toll or long distance calls, of which record is always made.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates a timing mechanism, preferably direct reading, located at the subscribers station, and started in operation every time the receiver is taken down for use. Readings are taken from this mechanism by an inspector the same as in the case of a gas or other meter, and such readings will represent the elapsed time during successive uses of the instrument. The result of this of course will be that time will be charged to the called party as well as the caller, but only, it should be observed, in case the called party answers. As a matter of strict equity, this is correct, for it is only just that each party to the conversation should hear his share of the eX- pense and this falls more heavily in every case on the calling party for the reason that he has his telephone off the hook and his timing mechanism running while the connection is being made and while waiting for the called party to answer. It is proper that this time should be charged against him, since the mechanism is employed by the operator at his demand.

One embodiment of my invention is illus- Patented July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 351,715.

trated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front view of a telephone wall set containing a timing device, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the timing derice and the switch hook removed from the box. Fig. 3 shows in top view the mechanism of the timing device.

In Fig. 1 B indicates the box or casing containing the telephone parts. Protruding from this box is the usual switch hook H carrying the receiver It; and on the front of the box is mounted the transmitter T. In the upper end of the cover is an opening I) which may be glazed or covered with transparent celluloid or the like. Through this opening readings are taken by the inspector.

Referring to 2, 71, indicates the escutcheon upon which the working parts of the switch hook are mounted. I have shown this escutcheon extended to a sufiicient length to carry timing mechanism or clock work C, which is preferably inclosed within a suitable frame work or casing 0, and it consists in the several gears 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, G supported by arbors 7, S, 9, as shown in Fig. 3. In front of the casing appears the end of the main arbor 0, having its end squared to permit of winding, and having the usual ratchet connection with the main driving wheel, as indicated in dotted lines. Power is supplied to the train of gears by a weight w, and the accurate running of the mechanism is secured by a scape wheel 0 governed by the escapement 0" whose verge rod 0 carries the adjustable weight 0". The mechanism is normally prevented from running by a spring finger h attached to the end if of the stub lever of the switch hook H. The switch hook I have selected for illustration is the same as that shown and described in Letters Patent No. 829,535, granted August 28, 1906, to Ray H. Manson, but the type of switch hook employed is, of course, immaterial.

In operation, when the subscriber removes his receiver R from the hook H, the latter rises and the spring finger h is removed from contact with the weight 0, permitting the latter to vibrate, and thereby permitting the scape wheel 0 to rotate. The rod 0 is of course in eifect a pendulum, and I contemplate making this entire mechanism quite accurate, so that it may be checked by the subscriber if he desires to do so. As long as the hook II is up, the clock work continues to run, and the graduated wheel or disk 0 continues to turn. In order to make it direct-reading, I preferably graduate it in hours, and provide a fixed arrow point a on the casing so as to facilitate the reading with exactness.

While I have shown herein a weight as the actuating means for my time mechanism, and a pendulum or verge rod for the scape wheel, I prefer to use in practice a spring driven motor, and a balance wheel escapement. The finger h or its equivalent, then engages the balance wheel when the hook is down, so as to stop the motor and is removed therefrom when the hook is up, so as to permit it to run.

My method of operation comprises the reading of all the subscribers meters, the percentage reduction of these total readings or of the charge per hour, to allow for time lost in various ways, as by calls not anr swered, and finally the deduction from the total of all charges specifically entered against each subscriber, such as toll or long distance charges. The amount remaining furnishes a just basis for charging the subscriber with his proportionate share of the total charge necessary to be distributed.

Various changes may be made in the arrangement and adaptation of my apparatus, and all such changes I intend to include within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a plate, a time measuring mechanism and a receiver hook carried by the plate, said receiver hook controlling said time measuring mechanism and a cabinet distinct from the plate for supporting such plate and containing the parts carried thereby.

2. In combination, a mounting plate, time measuring mechanism and a pivoted receiver hook supported by such plate in operative relation to each other, such receiver hook when in its depressed position adapted to prevent operation of the time measuring mechanism and a cabinet distinct from the mounting plate for supporting such plate and containing the parts carried thereby.

3. In combination, a mounting plate, time measuring mechanism, a movable receiver hook and associated contact springs, such time measuring mechanism, receiver hook and springs carried by such plate, and such receiver hook adapted to permit or prevent operation of the time measuring mechanism according as such hook is in its raised or depressed position and a cabinet distinct from the mounting plate for supporting such plate and containing the parts carried thereby.

t. In combination with a telephone cabinet, a plate, time measuring mechanism and a receiver hook carried by the plate, said receiver hook controlling said time measuring mechanism, said cabinet having an opening therein to permit passing the time measuring mechanism and receiver hook therethrough whereby said time measuring mechanism and receiver hook may be supported within the cabinet by the plate.

5. In combination with a telephone cabinet, a plate, time measuring mechanism carried by the plate, a movable receiver hook controlling said time measuring mechanism and so supported from the plate as to pass therethrough, contact springs associated with the receiver hook and carried by the plate, said cabinet having an opening therein to permit passing therethrough the parts carried by the plate, whereby the time measuring mechanism, receiver hook and contact springs may be supported within the cabinet by the plate.

6. In combination with a telephone set, a receiver, a receiver hook, time measuring mechanism associated with the hook, means independent of the hook for driving such mechanism, an escapement for such mechanism, and means carried by the hook for engaging such escapement to prevent operation of such mechanism when the receiver is on the hook.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD MAX EATON. lVitnesses:

ANNA M. LYNCH, E. IRENE BRADLEY. 

